South African police discover body of 11th woman near Johannesburg

South African police reported the discovery of an 11th female body in the Ekurhuleni municipality, east of Johannesburg. The corpse was found in an open field around midday local time on Sunday after a security company vehicle alerted authorities, police spokeswoman Brigadier Brenda Muridili said. Officials have not yet released information about the victim’s identity, age, or cause of death. The discovery follows a series of bodies found around Johannesburg since mid-July. Earlier incidents include three bodies found in July and August within about 6 km of one another, and a cluster of six bodies discovered over 10 days earlier this month in the same municipality. Prior to the most recent find, the deceased were reported to be women in their 20s and 30s, and several were found completely or partially naked. Law enforcement is investigating whether the killings are connected. Provincial police chief Tommy Mthombeni said some cases share similarities but cautioned there is no conclusive evidence linking all of the deaths to a single person or group. Police have made several arrests: two women have been charged in the killing of the ninth victim, and a man was arrested nearly 400 km away in connection with one of the cases, bringing the total number of people in custody tied to the series to four. The spate of discoveries has drawn national attention amid longstanding concerns about violence against women in South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa publicly acknowledged the recovery of the tenth body while campaigning for local elections, calling the ongoing killings a source of deep sadness. South Africa records a high rate of femicide, with reporting that averages about 15 women killed per day, a statistic that has underscored public alarm over the recent cluster of deaths in Ekurhuleni.